Tuesday, 31 August 2010

A jobless teen accused of beating an innocent passer-by to death in a builder’s yard moments after storming out of a flat during a row with his girlfriend has been remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey.

Local woman Toni Rudman, 24, (pictured) suffered fatal head injuries in North Road, Woolwich, South East London on August 7.

Jobless Ryan David Lee Backhouse, 19, appeared at Woolwich Magistrates’ Court charged with her murder and will next appear on November 15.

A relative of Toni’s said from the family home in Erith: “We can’t believe it has happened. We are in total shock.

“My mother’s struggling to cope. We are utterly devastated and she is in pieces.”

Passers-by ran to help after hearing the victim’s screams and found her lying on the ground with “horrendous” head injuries.

Paramedics and an air ambulance were called at 8.10pm, but Toni was declared dead at the scene.

Monday, 30 August 2010

A balding video games geek – employed by industry giants Sega – is starting a two-and-a-half year prison sentence after trying to rape a woman outside a landmark West End nightspot.

Dean Powell, 33, of Gews Corner, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, who tested games such as Sonic the Hedgehog, was attending a Christmas party when he pounced on the woman after promising to take care of her.

Powell (pictured) pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to attempting to rape the 34 year-old victim and sexually assaulting her outside the Hard Rock Café on December 18, last year.

He was placed on the sex offender’ register for ten years.

A doorman outside the club spotted Powell trying to have sex at 2am with the reluctant woman, took three pictures with his mobile phone for evidence and heard her say: “I don’t want to do that.”

The victim told police she encountered Powell by the club’s cloakroom and thought she could trust him to escort her home safely after he assured her: “I will look after you.”

Staff called police and Powell was arrested.

Detective Constable James Emeny, who led the investigation for the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Unit, said: “Thanks to the intervention of witnesses to this crime, this man has been brought to justice.

“I would like to thank staff at the Hard Rock café who played a vital role in assisting this investigation.

“This sentencing is a message to those who commit these crimes that these will be dealt with robustly.”

Sunday, 29 August 2010

Two drug-dealing snooker club bosses also caught storing two loaded guns at a nearby taxi firm have each been jailed for twelve years.

Police seized a SIG 9mm self-loading pistol and a Browning 9mm high-powered pistol plus ammo during a raid, which also netted cannabis and £5,000 in drug profits.

Ali Demirci, 30, of London Road, Enfield, North London (pic.top) and Metin Bolat, 30 (pic.bottom) were arrested on October 9, last year.

Demirci was convicted at Wood Green Crown Court on two counts of possessing a firearm, with intent to endanger life, three counts of possessing cannabis and possessing the proceeds of crime, namely £5,000.

Bolat was convicted of the same firearms offences, plus two counts of possessing cannabis.

The pair ran the Enfield snooker club as a front for their criminal activities and 96 bags of cannabis were found on the premises.

They rented a room at the next-door taxi office where further quantities of cannabis were found along with the two guns, stuffed inside a dressing-table drawers.

Detective Constable John Whiting of the Met Police’s Central Task Force said: “These men were storing guns and dealing drugs from their business properties in Enfield.

“This activity posed a significant risk to the community, which has now been eliminated by police to ensure public safety.

“We work tirelessly to keep drugs and guns off the streets and to bring men like this to justice.”

Demirci tried to fool police into believing the drugs cash found at his home was the result of his girlfriend’s recent insurance claim.

Balaclavas and scarves were also found in the taxi office, which police believe may have been used for criminal activity.

Saturday, 28 August 2010

A promising student, targeted by police for drug-dealing on campus, is facing at least five years imprisonment after police caught him walking around with a gun and ammo.

Adamo Kizey, 18, of Cambridge Gardens, Kingston-upon-Thames even had a silencer for the weapon wrapped in a sock at the bottom of his wardrobe.

Kizey, (pictured) pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm, with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition, with intent to endanger life at Kingston College on February 2.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing the silencer and twenty wraps of cannabis at his home address on the same day.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Central Task Force, acting on a tip-off, searched Kizey in a college office and found the black semi-automatic pistol inside his jacket and a magazine containing six bullets in an outer pocket.

His home was then raided and officers found the silencer, cannabis in a jacket pocket and a set of digital weighing scales.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Beyer of the Central Task Force said: “This student was carrying a firearm on college property which posed a significant safety risk to students and teaching staff, as well as the wider community”

“Officers from the MPS's Central Task Force carried out a successful, targeted and discrete operation which has removed another gun from the streets of London.”

Kingston College Principal Peter Mayhew-Smith said: “Our main priority is the safety of our students and unlawful behaviour is not tolerated.

“The incident is the first of its kind and the college will continue working with the police to ensure students are educated on crime related issues.”

Kizey will be sentenced at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on September 24.

Those sentences are the minimum the defendants must serve before being considered for parole.

The local gang had traveled by mini-cab to the estate armed with a machete-type knife and hammer intent on attacking any random youth and Moses was probably killed by the first stab wound.

However, the frenzied attack continued with the victim receiving a further nine stab wounds plus hammer blows to the head.

The defendants were heard by witnesses callously laughing as they ran from the scene through a car park underneath a parade of shops back to the mini-cab.

Police believe their motive was no other than to ‘hunt’ down some boys that they could attack and injure.

Throughout their interviews and the trial the defendants gave no other indication as to why they attacked Moses, who did not even know them and was a totally innocent victim in their violent pack mentality.

Detective Inspector Cliff Haines from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “Moses was in the wrong place at the wrong time and died in the most tragic way.

“Throughout this process his family have behaved with such dignity, it is humbling to think that they have suffered such a terrible loss.

“I would like to thank the local community for all the information and assistance they gave to this investigation, allowing us to bring these offenders to justice and I truly hope that everyone, including those connected with the Youth Awareness Programme (YAP), Tevy Bridge, can now begin to move forward with their lives.”

Wednesday, 25 August 2010

A teenage student arrested during a police raid for storing a handgun and hundreds of bullets for a North London gang has been jailed for five years.

Forensics student Mary Boateng, 19, of Northumberland Park, Tottenham hid the Derringer-type pistol (pictured) in a rucksack and 300 bullets – 149 of which matched the firearm – in a bag in her kitchen.

Police from the Serious and Organised Crime Command executed a search warrant after an intelligence-led operation.

Before the search she confessed to detectives knew there was "something bad" in the rucksack.

DNA-testing by the Forensic Science Service matched a hair found caught in a knot of the plastic bag containing the ammunition with Boateng.

Boateng pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to possession of a prohibited firearm, prohibited ammunition – three ‘dumb dumb’ bullets - and a further charge of unlawful possession of the remaining bullets.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Beyer, from the Central Task Force, said: “Whether or not Boateng knew the exact contents of the bag in her home, she, in her own words, knew it contained ‘something bad’.

“We have removed a gun and a large quantity of ammunition from the streets of London, which would no doubt have caused injury or death.

“The Met Police Service has said loud and clear that people who store guns for others will face time in jail.”

Tuesday, 24 August 2010

A notorious Torquay troublemaker is now on the run from police again after jumping bail when failing to turn up for sentencing on burglary and criminal damage charges.

Graham Shoebridge, 37, (pictured) formerly of Old Torwood Road was recently made subject to a court-imposed restraining order after making a series of nuisance phone calls to the Key West Hotel, Meadfoot Sea Road, Torquay.

He received seventy days imprisonment in June for calling the hotel fifty times in just three days and has a history of similar offences, including restraining orders he did not obey.

Shoebridge, now of Sumatra Road, Camden, North London failed to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court after being committed there for sentencing by Highbury Corner Magistrartes’ Court.

Prosecutor Mr. Philip Jones’s application for a warrant without bail was immediately granted by Recorder Miss D Champion who announced: “Clearly he is not here.”

Shoebridge’s lawyer Miss Jenny McVeigh told the court: “I spoke to him yesterday and told him to be here so we could discuss the pre-sentence report.”

He previously jumped bail in Torquay when convicted of harassment after throwing a pizza box into a delivery woman’s face and hurling a torrent of abuse.

“His friend is here who spoke to Mr. Shoebridge on the phone and he made it clear he was not coming. I do not know what the reason is,” added the lawyer.

Later, a rambling fax sent by Shoebridge explaining his non-attendance arrived, but was intercepted by his lawyer who did not want Recorder Champion to read it.

Monday, 23 August 2010

A £20,000 reward is now being offered by police for help in solving the execution-style shooting of a 24 year-old man in South-East London a year ago.

Nathan Williams (pictured) was shot several times in the early hours of July 28, last year in Ludwick Mews, New Cross.

Police were called to reports of shots fired at 1:30am and Mr. Williams, from Kennington, was found with serious injuries in a VW Golf and rushed to Kings College Hospital, where he died the same night.

Operation Trident officers – who investigate violent black-on-black crime – believe four men were involved in the shooting.

Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Allison said: “It's now a year on from Nathan's murder and we believe that the local community hold the answers as to who did this.

“This was a brutal execution of a young man and those who did this should not be tolerated by the community - if you have information I would urge you to come forward and work with police, who can protect your identity.

“Nathan's family deserve justice for their loss and the community deserve to live without fear of those who commit these terrible crimes.”

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Tony Nash of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “Wieslaw Czyrak was subjected to an act of mindless violence which led to his fatal heart attack.

“This case is another illustration of pack mentality where despite it being unclear who delivered the fatal blow, the four involved, who have shown no remorse, are guilty and will now spend time behind bars.

Mr. Czyrak, who had been in the UK for several years, lived in the local area and worked casually.

On the night of his death he visited a squat in Tottenham High Road to drink with pals when Rutkowski and Majewski arrived and began preparing drugs.

Mr.Czyrak objected and after a brief argument the defendants returned with the Glowacki’s and the group attacked him with a length of wood and repeatedly punched and kicked his head and body.

“The reason for the attack remains unknown. Only those found guilty truly know why they chose to beat Mr Ahmed to the point of unconsciousness, before pouring accelerant over him and setting him alight.

“Mr. Ahmed received 44 per cent burns to his body and it was only the specialist care provided by the staff at Royal London Hospital and the Specialist Burns Unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford that saved his life.

“Mr. Ahmed is a quiet, unassuming man who appears to have been targeted for no better reason than some extreme form of sadistic bullying.

“Mr. Ahmed is now trying to rebuild his life, however the physical and psychological injuries he sustained will remain with him forever.”

The victim, who knew Joseph and Dedman, was beaten to the point of unconsciousness and left lying on the ground.

The defendants ran away, but returned moments later to set Mr. Ahmed alight, having doused him with two bottles of lighter fluid- stolen by Joseph from a petrol station earlier.

Despite his injuries, Mr. Ahmed managed to put out the flames and was spotted by members of the public staggering near Burdett Road and police were called.

Each defendant was ordered to serve a fifteen-year minimum by an Old Bailey judge before being considered for parole.

Friday, 20 August 2010

The boss of a notorious Caribbean café – arrested again after a another police raid, which caught over a dozen cannabis-smoking customers – has been jailed for fifty-one weeks.

Jamaican-born Anthony Lambert, 55, of Pankhurst Close, New Cross is the owner of popular ‘Nat’s Bake & Juice’ of 12 Brockley Cross, Brockley.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to allowing the premises to be used for smoking cannabis and possessing three small bags of the drug at his home address on June 4.

Police executing a search warrant at the café (pictured) discovered twelve to fifteen male customers in the smoke-filled basement with various amounts of cannabis found on them when searched.

Lambert, who confesses he “turned a blind eye” to the smoking was upstairs cooking at the time.

It was the second recent police raid on the café, which Lambert began running in 2006, and on October 20, last year he received a fifty-one week prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Woolwich Crown Court for an identical offence.

The court heard Lambert, who has other previous drug convictions, smokes cannabis for pain relief following a car accident and hernia injury picked up when employed years ago as a panel beater.

His back is partially paralysed and he spends £60 per week on cannabis to also alleviate headaches, stomach and hip pain.

Activating the suspended sentence in full the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told Lambert: “Like it or not cannabis is unlawful in this country and it has been for a long time. Other pain relief remedies are available.

“Let this be a lesson to you. When you come out of prison get your brain in gear that cannabis is unlawful or you will just keep going back to prison.”

A fifty-one week concurrent prison sentence was passed for the new offence of allowing his premises to be used, with one month concurrent for possessing the three small bags of cannabis.

Lambert pleaded not guilty to possessing £3,000 in criminal property on June 4 and the prosecution did not proceed with the charge.

On September 28, 2006 seven arrests were made at the café, including possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, and a closure order was issued the same evening.

The premises were raided by the police’s Strategic Support Group, supported by Brockley Safer Neighbourhoods team after eight months of surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Thursday, 19 August 2010

A benefits cheat who claimed over £37,000 in disability and other payments while employed in a physically-demanding hospital cleaning job has been jailed for twelve months.

Bangladesh-born Shiree Begum, 61, of Cornwallis Square, Upper Holloway also received income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit payments while putting in a thirty-seven hour week at St. Bartholomew’s, Smithfields (pictured).

Begum, who fled to her homeland after she was initially quizzed by investigators, was arrested on her return to the UK and is currently in receipt of disability living allowance.

Her initial disability claim for an arthritic knee in 1997 was legitimate, but on November 11, 2002 she began working under an alias and her tasks included hovering, mopping, emptying rubbish bins and lifting.

While employed full-time she obtained £14,714 in disability benefit; £6,915 income support; £10,316 in housing benefit and £5,442 in council tax benefit.

Begum pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to four charges of failing to notify a change of circumstances to the Department of work and Pensions and the London Borough of Islington.

The first-time offender, who produced a forty-one page medical history to the court, quit working in September, 2005 due to illness.

Her 87 year-old husband has his own health issues, suffering heart problems and currently recovering from tumor surgery.

Recorder Constance Briscoe told the visibly shaken defendant: “You failed to disclose that you were capable of carrying out a decent week’s work even though you were lifting, walking, cleaning despite the disability you claimed.

Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Mazibrada told the court it was 1 pm when a concerned member of the public pointed out to police a group of five black males standing outside a Jamaican food shop after spotting one of them wielding a blade.

Police approached and French Guyana-born Coueta - who was ordered to sign-on the sex offender's register for 10 years - was seen striding towards his accusers in an "aggressive manner" and shouting: "You think you're a big man."

Officers drew C.S. gas and the defendant dropped the knife - which had an extra-long blade - without resistance.

Father-of-two Coueta told police he grabbed the knife from a shop counter for his own protection when approached by an angry group who knew his background.

"One of them attacked his house in 2008," said the defendant's lawyer Miss Adiatu Tejan. "He is mortified at being here after trying to get his life back together."

Judge C.C.D Lindsay QC told Coueta, who was on bail accused of domestic violence at the time of the offence: "This offence is serious. You had a Stanley knife and the blade was seen by a member of the public."

Tuesday, 17 August 2010

Police hunting a late-night South London sex attacker who pounced on a 20 year-old woman in her bedroom after being invited into her shared home have released an e-fit of the suspect.

Detective Constable James Fox from the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Command said: “We are asking for anyone with any information that could help us find this man to contact us as soon as possible.

“This man took advantage of a woman after he befriended her housemate and I would urge anyone who may recognise the person from the e-fit or with information about who this man is to come forward and assist the police with the investigation.

“We have a DNA profile of the suspect so we would like to reassure people that anyone who was not involved will be eliminated from our enquires quickly.”

At approximately 2:00 am on Friday January 29 the victim was woken up at her home address in Tooting having been sexually assaulted by the suspect.

He ended up in the victim's home after befriending one of her housemates on a night out in nearby Mitcham Road.

The suspect is described as a white man – probably Polish - who has short light brown or blond hair.

He is 5' 9" tall, of medium build and is clean-shaven.

He was wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a jacket.

Anyone with any information is urged to call the Sapphire Command office on 020 8649 3105 or if you wish to remain anonymous ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Monday, 16 August 2010

A self-styled spiritual guru has been locked up for ten years for raping and sexually assaulting two of the many women who fell under his spell.

Michael Lyons, 52, of Brondesbury Park, Cricklewood, North-West London called himself Mohan Singh and won praise from many followers for his skill in teaching and administering mental and physical well-being.

However, seven women claimed they were victims of sex attacks and a Wood Green Crown Court jury convicted Lyons of raping one 34 year-old and assaulting a 43 year-old.

His conviction follows a lengthy and demanding investigation led by Camden Police Sapphire officers, which included travel to the US to identify witnesses and secure evidence.

“Lyons purported to be a naturopath, skilled in osteopathy, acupuncture and nutrition.

“His followers were mainly women, who supported his lavish lifestyle.

“He was introduced to potential new members through his followers and the new members were also women, with interests in spiritualism and well being.

“We heard in evidence that Lyons used a program of sleep deprivation, psychological harassment as well as group social pressure to coerce them to join and sexually assaulted victims during this process.

Saturday, 14 August 2010

The ex-butler to the Japanese Ambassador now lives in a hostel for single men after a violent knifepoint bust-up with his younger wife wrecked his marriage and gave him a criminal record.

Retired Franciso Quintos, 60, of Cricklewood Broadway, Cricklewood, who suspected she was having an affair, was arrested after a vodka-fueled confrontation at the couple’s matrimonial home.

Quintos, who in March, 2007 received a police caution for assaulting his wife after she smashed their new flat screen television pleaded guilty to affray at Clarkson House, Maysoule Road, Wandsworth on November 21, last year.

“He is a man who has lost absolutely everything,” his lawyer Miss Julia Mackworth told Kingston upon Thames Crown Court.

“He was the butler to the Japanese Ambassador in the Court of St. James' (pictured) and now spends his days drinking beer by himself and thinking back.”

Prosecutor Miss Hannah Duncan told the court it was 1am when Quintos woke his wife and quizzed her about the suspected affair with a work colleague – who she now shares their marital home with.

As their eight year-old daughter slept Quintos threatened to kill the entire family if his suspicions were confirmed.

“He said if he could prove it he would kill them all and returned from the kitchen with a knife,” explained Miss Duncan.

“He pinned his wife to the sofa while pointing the knife at her and said: ‘I will try it now’ and she says she thought he was going to kill her.”

She locked herself in the bedroom and called a friend and police, who arrested Quintos at the address.

Judge Susan Tapping told the defendant: “Your behaviour that night was disgraceful and your eight year-old daughter was in the house at the time.

“You got yourself drunk, you were out of control and took a kitchen knife and threatened your wife.”

Quintos was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for one year and placed under a nine-month supervision order, which includes six months alcohol treatment.